« Back to Blog

Patriots Point Celebrates USS Yorktown’s 75th Anniversary

Molly Hamilton Apr 18, 2018

It took former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt two tries to break the champagne bottle against the hull of the USS Yorktown CV-10 when she christened the ship she sponsored in 1943, it took her granddaughter three tries to do the same on the 75th anniversary of the ship’s commissioning.  Hundreds gathered aboard “The Fighting Lady” on 15 April 2018 to celebrate this “diamond” anniversary.  This crowd included two original ship crewmembers (plankowners) and about a dozen veterans who served the ship over her three decades of naval service.

The ceremony began with a medley of patriotic music performed by the 246th Army Band of the South Carolina Army National Guard.  After a welcome and invocation, USS Yorktown Association Chairman Ron Meachum shared a history of the USS Yorktown, highlighting all of the accomplishments of her lengthy service.

The USS Yorktown was the tenth aircraft carrier to serve the United States Navy.  She participated in the Pacific theater during World War II from 1943-1945 and earned the Presidential Unit Citation and 11 battle stars for her service during that conflict.  In the 1950s, the Yorktown was modernized to operate jet aircraft as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-10). In 1957, she was re-designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier (CVS-10), and would later earn five battle stars for service off Vietnam (1965-68). Known as “The Fighting Lady,” the ship also recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule in December 1968.

The USS Yorktown continued her service until she was decommissioned in 1970.  Five years later, in June 1975 she was towed from Bayonne, NJ to become the centerpiece of what would become Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum when it opened in January 1976.

The featured speaker for the event was Nancy Roosevelt Ireland, whose grandmother former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was the sponsor of the USS Yorktown CV-10 (and the CV-5 with the same name).  As part of the 75th anniversary ceremony, Mrs. Ireland “re-christened” the ship as her grandmother had done in the year the Yorktown was commissioned.

After Mrs. Ireland broke the bottle and officially “re-christened” the ship the USS Yorktown, the Yorktown veterans rose to lay a wreath in memory of all those who have died in or after serving the great ship while the band played “Taps.”

At the end of the ceremony, the veterans and Mrs. Ireland participated in a “Meet & Greet” with the hundreds of visitors who came to the ceremony.  The veterans signed a commemorative 75th anniversary poster for guests.

Check out the gallery of photos below:

« Previous Post

Vietnam Veterans Recall the Pivotal Battle for Hue City

Next Post »

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR "BEHIND THE LINES"

3 thoughts on “Patriots Point Celebrates USS Yorktown’s 75th Anniversary

  1. Tony Faiia says:

    Is Patriots Point wheelchair friendly?

    1. Molly Hamilton says:

      Hi Tony. I apologize for the delay in a response. Wheelchair accessibility is a challenge on ships. That said, by wheelchair, guests can tour three levels of the USS Yorktown (pier level — various displays including the galley and new Engine Room Experience exhibit; hangar bay — numerous aircraft, snackbar, Smokey Stover Theater, Apollo 8 exhibit, Medal of Honor Museum, and more; and flight deck — about a dozen aircraft and amazing views of the Charleston harbor). Guests can also tour the Vietnam Experience exhibit by wheelchair and the Cold War Submarine Memorial. Access to the USS Laffey requires guests to ascend and descend two steps off the gangplank, each way, and the Clamagore (submarine) is impossible for wheelchair access due to numerous hatches and ladders).

      Hope that helps.

      Molly Hamilton
      Public Information & Media Relations

  2. I will be in Charleston with my wife and my children and there families. The 26th thru the 29th and I am looking forward to visiting USS Yorktown

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Military (ID required)
  • $22
  • Buy Now
  • SC Teachers/SC First Responders (ID required)
  • $23
  • Buy Now

COVID-19 Notice

Due to health safety measures related to COVID-19, structured, in-person education programs have been suspended. Please consider booking a guided or self-guided tour for your group.

More Information

COVID-19 Notice

Due to health safety measures related to COVID-19, our overnight camping program has been suspended. Please consider joining our exclusive list to be among the first to learn when the program relaunches.

Interested in booking a day group visit to see our museum? Discounted rates for 10+ people.

More Information